Where to Stay in Meredith and Center Harbor

Meredith and Center Harbor sit side by side at the northwest corner of Lake Winnipesaukee, and together they make one of the easiest bases in the Lakes Region. Meredith has the busier village, with shops, restaurants and the lake right at the end of Main Street. Center Harbor is quieter, tucked between Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake. Early June, before the peak of summer, is a smart time to book: you get long days on the water, and you have more choice of rooms than you will in July.

This guide to Meredith NH hotels and nearby stays covers the main options in both towns, from a lakefront resort collection to Victorian bed and breakfasts and whole-house rentals. Rates and availability change through the season, so check each property's own site for current details.

Meredith at a glance

Meredith Village sits at the head of Meredith Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee, on a strip of land between the bay and Lake Waukewan, a 928-acre lake just to the west. The village grew up at the junction of US 3 and NH 25, which still makes it an easy place to reach and a convenient hub for exploring the rest of the lake. The town had 6,662 residents at the 2020 census.

The center of the village has a small industrial history. The waterfall that runs through the Mill Falls Marketplace comes from a canal dug between 1816 and 1818 that redirected the flow from Lake Waukewan and created a 30-foot drop at what is now the marketplace. Today the old mill site is the heart of the village's lakefront lodging and shopping.

Meredith was connected by railroad in 1849, and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad still runs along the lake from here. The Stonedam Island Natural Area is also part of the town.

Center Harbor at a glance

Center Harbor is a small town between Lake Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake, with 1,040 residents. It was incorporated in 1797, and it holds a notable place in American sports history: the first Harvard-Yale Regatta was held here on August 3, 1852.

Center Harbor also has some green space worth knowing about. The Proctor Wildlife Sanctuary covers 47 acres, and Center Harbor Woods covers 225 acres, both good places for a quiet walk away from the lake traffic.

The two towns are close enough that you can stay in one and spend your days in the other. Choose Meredith if you want to walk to dinner and shops; choose Center Harbor if you want a beach and a slower pace.

Mill Falls: a resort collection in the village

Mill Falls at the Lake is the largest lodging operation in Meredith village, and it is really four inns run as one collection. Church Landing, at 281 Daniel Webster Highway, is the lakefront inn. Bay Point sits at 1 NH-25. Chase House is at 300 Daniel Webster Highway, and the Palmer Inn is at 312. Check-in for all four inns is at 281 Daniel Webster Highway, so plan to start there when you arrive, whichever inn you have booked.

The appeal is location. The inns sit around the Mill Falls Marketplace and the bay, so you can walk to the water, the shops and the village restaurants without moving the car. For a first visit to the lake, it is hard to find a more convenient base.

Chase House deserves its own mention. The resort describes it as "A Cozy Comfort Inn," and its renovations are complete. It is a good choice if you want the Mill Falls location in a smaller, more relaxed setting than the lakefront inns.

A Victorian bed and breakfast in Meredith

Meredith Inn Bed & Breakfast is a restored Victorian with eight rooms, each with a private bath. It sits between Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Waukewan, in the village itself. A bed and breakfast suits travelers who want a quieter night and a more personal stay than a large resort offers, while still being close to the lake and the village.

Center Harbor: a beach of your own

The Center Harbor Inn is the choice for a beach stay. It sits on 200 feet of private sandy beach on Lake Winnipesaukee, with its own dock system and watercraft rentals. Rooms sleep up to six, which makes it practical for families or small groups. In early June, before the water reaches its summer warmth, the beach is still a fine place for a morning coffee or an evening by the lake.

Sutton House Bed & Breakfast in Center Harbor is a restored three-story Victorian with nine rooms, each with its own private bath. It runs as a full-service traditional bed and breakfast and describes itself as family friendly and pet friendly. That last point is worth noting, since pet-friendly options are not always easy to find near the lake.

Lake rentals for longer stays

For a week or more, or for a larger group, a rental house may make more sense than an inn. Break Away Vacation Rentals & Property Management manages rentals on Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Winnisquam, including waterfront homes, cottages, houses and pet-friendly properties. A rental gives you a kitchen, room to spread out and, on the right property, your own piece of shoreline.

How to choose

A few questions help narrow it down:

• Do you want to walk everywhere? Stay in Meredith village, at Mill Falls, Chase House or the Meredith Inn.
• Is a beach the priority? The Center Harbor Inn has its own private sandy beach.
• Traveling with a dog? Sutton House describes itself as pet friendly, and Break Away lists pet-friendly rentals. Confirm the policy when you book.
• Staying a week or more? A rental house is often the better fit.
• Want a quieter, personal stay? Either town's bed and breakfasts are good choices.

Things to do from your base

Both towns put you in reach of the best of the Lakes Region. In Meredith, walk the village and the Mill Falls Marketplace, ride the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad along the shore, or spend time on Lake Waukewan. From Center Harbor, Squam Lake is right next door, and the town's sanctuaries and woods offer easy walks. Both towns sit on the routes around the lake, so day trips to the other lake towns are straightforward.

Tips for an early summer stay

Book early if your dates are fixed. The lake towns fill up as summer goes on, and the best-located rooms go first, especially on weekends.

Pack for changing weather. Early June on the lake can be warm in the afternoon and cool at night, and the water itself is still warming up.

Ask about parking and check-in. At Mill Falls, for example, all four inns check in at the same location, which is worth knowing before you pull up.

Frequently asked questions

Is Meredith or Center Harbor better for a lake vacation?

Meredith is better if you want to walk to shops and restaurants in a lively village. Center Harbor is quieter and has a beachfront inn, with Squam Lake close by.

Are there hotels on the water in Meredith?

Yes. Church Landing, one of the Mill Falls inns, is on the lake, and the Mill Falls collection sits around the bay in the village.

Are there pet-friendly places to stay in Center Harbor?

Sutton House Bed & Breakfast describes itself as pet friendly, and Break Away Vacation Rentals lists pet-friendly rentals. Check the policy when you book.

What lakes are near Meredith?

Lake Winnipesaukee, with Lake Waukewan just to the west of the village and Squam Lake near Center Harbor.

Sources

• Meredith, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (village location, 2020 population, 1816-18 canal and 30-foot drop, 1849 railroad, Stonedam Island): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith,_New_Hampshire
• Lake Waukewan, Wikipedia (928 acres): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Waukewan
• Center Harbor, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, 1797, 1852 regatta, sanctuaries): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_Harbor,_New_Hampshire
• Mill Falls at the Lake: https://www.millfalls.com/
• Chase House, Mill Falls: https://www.millfalls.com/stay/chase-house/
• Meredith Inn Bed & Breakfast: https://www.meredithinn.com/
• The Center Harbor Inn: https://centerharborinn.com/
• Sutton House Bed & Breakfast: https://sutton-house.com
• Break Away Vacation Rentals & Property Management: https://www.breakawayrentalhomes.com